The Grenada gazette., 1887-11-19

-.. Her pluck raised langh, and she "
not molcsted further. The big fell,
}. was satisfied to mix up with the Gro,
- and get out Of sight. Without wo
more Annie then went right throuI
the crowd to set a switch for ira
that was coming out. The gang pass
on and the girl was left alone. Sht
good one. and no mistake"
"How is she regarded among Il
yardmenp"
"They think the world of Ami
They would fight for her in Il minut
If necessary"
"Do not complaints come in occ;
sionally?"
II never had but one complaint frol
Annie in the whole twelve years sh
has been throwing switches. Ono
she was given a signal imperfectly
and sent car down the wrong track
This is very annoying to the engin
crews, as they have to back down ant
get it. As the engine went by one o
the switchmen gave Annie blast fol
her mistake. Well, the poor girl wa.
heartbroken to think she had made :
mistake-for she takes great pride in
her work--and then to have this on
top broke her all up. happened to
come out soon afterward and she told
me about it. The man was given his
time, and that was the last complaint
l ever heard from Annie. But 20 out
and see her yourself"
| l did SO.
| The stock-yards are situated about
mile and half west of the main yard,
although an interlacing chain of tracks
extends the entire distance, filled most
Of the time with putting engines and
moving cars. Out beyond the gigantic
elevators, where is stored away the
product of the Northwestern prairies,
the tracks narrow as they leave the
yard proper aud stretch away to the
stock-yards.
1t was lowerin~ day in August
when l walked out' along the track.
Out in the open, like a brown dot in a
mass of black spider-threads, lay
Annie's switch "shanty;' u mark for
biting winter winds and scorching
summer suns, from which its thin sides
would seem to afford but poor protec-
ton. A cold north wind came sweep
ing across the marshy valley, bringing
with it 4 suspicion of rain. 1t was one
of those days peculiar to the western
shore of Lake Michigan, where the flop
of a weather vane changes the dog-day
heat to autumn's chill.
Over to the northeast the spires and
cupolas of the crowded city stood out
against the cloudy sky, Back and be-
yond the brown shanty small grove
Of second-growth trees climb the :
abrupt hill, leaving the little strip of
meadow beneath to look out for itself.
The door of the switch shanty stands
open. Inside Il young woman was
ousily engaged with knitting work.
IN answer to Il question if this is
Switch Annie n bright, comely face. Il
'ronzed by summer sun to color
which an Atlantic City bather would v
nvy, is projected from behind the b
[oor, and al affirmative reply. accom-
'anicd b. . smile that reveals two
ows of white, even teeth is given. n
1t was the first glimpse of sunshine Il
hat day. "
l had pictured tall, raw-boncd. D
tolid-featucd amazon, in whom mus b
ular Development had checked all O
ther. l found a plump, comely young
oman. with u sunshiny face and a
lodest manner Clcar-headed, intelli- :,
ent, quick-witted, but calm and self II
nliant-altogetheran enjoyable picture =,
+ strong, healthy womanbood. In
taturc Annie is little above average p
eight, with plump. well-formed L.
gure and shapely head firmly poised '
Il a pair Of shoulders duchess might :,
nvy. A broad, straw hat coquettishly ~ =,
lnned up on one side shades the round u -
ice. The hands which ply the knit y
ng-needles are brown and calloused, u
ut shapely. A neat dress of dark ~
'lors with broad-toed, low-heeled "
alking shoes, built for service and not W W
low, completed the picture. =.
At the time of my visit Annie was re. III
living call from her uncle, himself a az
'ilroad man, and to whom | am in ~ ~
ebted for many facts in relation to VI ",
lis remarkable girl. l"
After the first slight reserve had III
orn off, Annie talked freely in regard ~
herself and her work. "A
"How long have been throwing ~.
1itchesP' she said, in reply to ques- :"
On. "About twelve years. How did j.
eommence? Well, when father was 81
'st given this place there were only III II,
Vo switches to look after. Then bus
ess began increasing and more y. ~
witches were put in. That made it ~
.rd for him, but he got along until he ~
I'd te be out nights. OF course then "
had to get some sleep in the day- W